U

.S. Department of Transportation Office of the Secretary ofTransportation


## APR 

## 28 2015 The Honorable Bill Walker Governor ofthe State ofAlaska State Capitol P.O. Box 110001 Juneau, AK 99811 Dear Governor Walker: 1200 New Jersey Avenue SE Washington DC 20590



### Thank you for your letter regarding the Native Village ofDiomede and Kawerak, Inc.'s request to become eligible for Basic Essential Air Service (EAS) under49 USC 

### § § 41713 and 41732

. As you note, Diomede is not currently eligible to receive subsidized air service under the Basic EAS program. However, for the last several years, the U.S. Department ofTransportationhas supported air service to Diomede through the Air Transportation to Noneligible Places program under 49 USC§ 41736. Under that program, the Federal Government covers 50 percent ofthe cost ofproviding subsidized air service, with the community providing the remaining 50 percent. Having reliable access to and from America's small and rural communities is one ofthe Department's priorities and we stand ready to further assist Diomede ifany legislative changes are made with regards to its eligibilityto receive subsidized air service. Thank you for your interest in programs that assist some ofour nation's mostremote communities. IfI may be ofany further assistance, please do not hesitate to contact me.



### X1-150422-002 Sincerely,

Brandon M. Belford Deputy Assistant Secretary for Aviation and International AffairsSTATE CAPITOL r.o. Box 11 

### oo<1i luneau. AK 9981 1-000 I 907-465-3500 fax: 907-465-3532 550 West Seventh Avenue, Suite 1700 Anchorage. AK 9950 I 907-269-7450 

## Governor Bill Walker STATE OF ALASKA fax 907-269-7461 www.Gov.Aiaska.Gov Governor@Aiaska.Gov

March 27,2015

The Honorable Lisa Murkowski United State Senate 709 Hart Senate Building Washington, DC 20510 The Honorable Don Young United States House ofRepresentatives Rayburn House Office Building Washington, DC 20515 The Honorable Dan Sullivan United States Senate B40A Dirksen Senate Office Building Washington, DC 20510 Mr. Brandon Belford Deputy Assistant Secretary for Aviation and 2314 International Affairs 1200 NewJersey Avenue, SE, Room W88-324, Washington, DC 20590-9898

Re: State ofAlaska Support for the Native Village ofDiomede's Request for Federal Legislative Amendments to become eligible for Essential Air Service (EAS). Dear Members ofAlaska's Congressional Delegation and Deputy Assistant Secretary Belford: I write today in support ofthe Native Village ofDiomede and Kawerak, Inc.'s (Kawerak) request to Alaska's Congressional delegation for a legislative amendment regarding the Essential Air Service program which would enable Diomede to become eligible to participate in the Basic EAS under 49 U.S.C. 

### §§ 47131 and 47132. Diomede is one ofthe most remote communities in the United States, and the ability to have regular scheduled 

### air carrier services is critical to the health, welfare, and safety ofthis community. EAS provides Diomede with vital medicines, infant formula, and food supplies essential for the community. Yet, Diomede is currently left out ofpermanent Basic EAS designation. The proposed legislative amendment would correct this inequity. The State ofAlaska in partnership with the Native Village ofDiomede and Kawerak absolutely supports the legislative proposal provided by Diomede and Kawerak as submitted to your offices in correspondence dated February 18, 2015. Sincerely,

Bill Walker GovernorThe Honorable Lisa Murkowski et. al. Native Village ofDiomede EAS March

## 2"1, 2015 Page 2

cc: The Honorable Donny Olson, Alaska State Senate The Honorable Neal Foster, Alaska State House ofRepresentatives JohnBioff, General Counsel, Kawerak, Inc. Robert SoolookJr
. President, Native Village ofDiomede The Honorable Chris Hladick, Commissioner, Alaska Department ofCommerce, Community, and Economic Development Fred Parady, Deputy Commissioner, Alaska DepartmentofCommerce, Community, and Economic Development Katherine Eldemar, Director, Division ofCommunity and Regional Affairs, Alaska Department ofCommerce, Community, and Economic Development Kip Knudson, Director ofState and Federal Relations, Office ofthe Governor